Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to Pictures Media Radio. Welcome to
Speaker 1: Policy and Rights show Ups, Welcome to Policy, Human Joys,
Speaker 1: Welcome back to policy and right here and Depictions Media Radio.
Speaker 1: I'm host to Michael Kloggs. Okay, So, coming up to
Speaker 1: July seventeenth, twenty twenty five, there has been large and
Speaker 1: huge questions about First Nations and Bill C five, that
Speaker 1: is the bill that fast tracks the critical projects to
Speaker 1: Canadian infrastructure, enabling under a federal provision that certain types
Speaker 1: of projects can be fast tracked and just put to
Speaker 1: put to put through with minimal environmental testing and minimal
Speaker 1: consultation to First Nations, if there is any consultation First
Speaker 1: Nations at all. And the problem is is that the
Speaker 1: bill itself breaks a number of treaties and international laws
Speaker 1: on Indigenous rights that First Nations are as Indigenous people
Speaker 1: should be counselor consulted about all of these major projects
Speaker 1: because it's going across traditional, territorial and ancestral lands. So
Speaker 1: what we're going to hear is is Mark Kearney has
Speaker 1: actually set up a meeting over the ended on July seventeenth,
Speaker 1: twenty twenty five, and it is the first and such
Speaker 1: meetings in over thirteen years where First Nations chiefs are
Speaker 1: all gathered together in order to speak with the Canadian
Speaker 1: government all at one time about a particular law or
Speaker 1: bill that is being put put to the test. So
Speaker 1: we're going to hear from Mark Karniy as he discussed
Speaker 1: the what critical infrastructure really means as he speaks to
Speaker 1: at a couple of different press conferences about the Canada
Speaker 1: or colonial side of things they need to happen. We're
Speaker 1: also going to hear from the First Nations National Chief
Speaker 1: as she discussed the needs of First Nations and the
Speaker 1: rights to actually protect the land and ensure that there
Speaker 1: is a appropriate balance between gathering resources because Canada is
Speaker 1: a resource for sale kind of a nation, and protecting
Speaker 1: the land so that it can be used for generations
Speaker 1: and generations to come. One of the things, one of
Speaker 1: the first things that it's taught in Addigenous culture to
Speaker 1: children is to protect the land for future generations beyond themselves.
Speaker 1: To protect things so that not only can they use it,
Speaker 1: but it has to last beyond them. It has to
Speaker 1: go past them to the next generations and generations beyond
Speaker 1: their their own, their own grand children and grandchildren and
Speaker 1: so forth, and that is something that some of the
Speaker 1: colonialism is very short sighted on. It doesn't necessarily always
Speaker 1: want to protect the generations to come, but it focuses
Speaker 1: more on what they hearing now is neither side is
Speaker 1: I'm going to say this, neither side is exactly right
Speaker 1: or wrong, but there has to be some sort of
Speaker 1: balance between the two in order for First Nations people
Speaker 1: to survive and thrive as they should within this within
Speaker 1: the society. Because it is the land that that their
Speaker 1: ancestors have been on for thousands of years, that we
Speaker 1: know that that there were cultures, there were countries, there
Speaker 1: were there were nations that that were on this particular
Speaker 1: land between especially between the US and Canada, where they
Speaker 1: tried trying to tell us that there wasn't there was
Speaker 1: just a jumble of stuff. There was wasn't anything, no
Speaker 1: formalized culture. That the people that were here were uncivilized
Speaker 1: and had no culture, and until until colonialism happened and
Speaker 1: that brought culture to it, that's simply not true that
Speaker 1: there was culture. There were there were nations, there were civilizations,
Speaker 1: there were towns, villages, and as you move across the
Speaker 1: county of North North America, that it wasn't just some
Speaker 1: jumble of stuff that there was established governments. There were
Speaker 1: established civilizations that were here before colonialism came, and that
Speaker 1: has to be recognized. And that's part of what is
Speaker 1: being asked now from First Nations members as they are
Speaker 1: confronting Bill C five, that the rights of the land
Speaker 1: have to be protected. The land itself has to be
Speaker 1: protected in order for us as human beings to live
Speaker 1: beyond future generations. And if we don't take that stewardship
Speaker 1: seriously that there are that the earth itself will take
Speaker 1: care of it, take care of it for us. So
Speaker 1: we have to the thing of it is is that
Speaker 1: both the colonial side and the rustation side have to
Speaker 1: come together in order to find a way to work together,
Speaker 1: to work with how the land itself wants to work.
Speaker 1: That we have to work together in order to protect
Speaker 1: all of the other species that by by mass ripping
Speaker 1: up and mass construction, will actually into the loss of
Speaker 1: species of animals, the loss is the species of plants,
Speaker 1: and ultimately with those losses will actually cause harm to
Speaker 1: our own existence. So why don't we listen to what
Speaker 1: the First Nation's chief has to say? And we're also
Speaker 1: going to hear a clip from Mark Karney as he
Speaker 1: appeared in at these press conferences, also with the summit
Speaker 1: that was held between First Nations and the Canadian government.
Speaker 2: For being pardon me, thanks for being here.
Speaker 3: This is uh.
Speaker 2: This is an important day. The government ran or I
Speaker 2: ran on building Canada, building Canada strong. We received a
Speaker 2: strong mandate for that. Our signature piece of legislation was
Speaker 2: the One Canadian Economy Act and Building Canada Act within
Speaker 2: that received bipartisan support in Parliament. And this is the
Speaker 2: first step. This is the first step of putting that
Speaker 2: into action. We're starting as we mean to go on,
Speaker 2: which means engaging with First Nations. We'll be engaging with
Speaker 2: the Inuit next week ten days from now Inuvik, and
Speaker 2: then they may see and having that engagement so that
Speaker 2: the projects, as we're building our nation, we're building all nations,
Speaker 2: building together, building in partnership. Today we'll be talking about
Speaker 2: building in partnership with First Nations in some cases, in
Speaker 2: partnership in some cases with projects led by First Nations.
Speaker 2: Today is about the how, not the what. We're not
Speaker 2: yet at the what stage we're not yet at the
Speaker 2: what stage of which projects and how exactly the conditions
Speaker 2: associated with those projects. But I'm very encouraged by the
Speaker 2: turnout today of elected chiefs across the country, both physically
Speaker 2: here and also virtually obviously in many cases very difficult
Speaker 2: circumstances with the forest fires ravaging our country across our
Speaker 2: country unfortunately now, and so the level of engagement, the
Speaker 2: seniority of engagement. I'm here. I'll be here all day
Speaker 2: with with my ministers and principally here to listen, uh
Speaker 2: listen to about that how in that engagement? Hello, and
Speaker 2: Francis p p uh the metal nerve, proget Luis the
Speaker 2: Projectlois Sank, the project, the batsil in Canada Falls City,
Speaker 2: send the la campaign and let poet Luis Clay comes Vico,
Speaker 2: he comes set on the convers vic is on me
Speaker 2: and it's offended. Come on va vic de ploge de
Speaker 2: pata de poge many Uh uh at all is just
Speaker 2: fake Ida to the dus sent chef to the adult chef.
Speaker 2: Uh von participate those many that you had? He's so
Speaker 2: two dozens, if you see, That's what I'll not be
Speaker 2: because they feel fighting at all.
Speaker 4: There's there's been a lot of age, there's been a lot.
Speaker 5: Of about the You're facing a room full of chiefs
Speaker 5: who faced other prime ministers who are distrustful, anxious, and
Speaker 5: in some cases angry. I'd like you to explain what
Speaker 5: advice you got from indigenous members of your cabinet and
Speaker 5: caucus who are here today. What advice did they give
Speaker 5: you to help establish trust in that room.
Speaker 2: I think it's a it's it's a central question, and
Speaker 2: I think the first is the advice that we took
Speaker 2: and the approach that we've taken, uh to this central
Speaker 2: issue for our country, for first nations of how we're
Speaker 2: going to build prosperity in which all benefit is first
Speaker 2: to create the conditions so we can have that conversation.
Speaker 2: Uh So this is enabling legislation. It doesn't say which projects,
Speaker 2: it doesn't say how we're going to build it. The
Speaker 2: second point is to the first thing we do is
Speaker 2: to sit down and discuss exactly that in an open way,
Speaker 2: to listen. That's always good advice. That's why I'm here.
Speaker 2: I'm I will say a few words at the start
Speaker 2: and answer questions at the end, but I'm here. I'm
Speaker 2: here to listen, engage, and move forward from them.
Speaker 6: LEC Finally, tons alone l.
Speaker 1: Well E.
Speaker 2: Claire send le pogeli cef wore the pe wow the
Speaker 2: apology a poge de de batsile Canada. He focused cheques
Speaker 2: polge sern do they put doctor ton So send de
Speaker 2: la bois in the adultes la bois quis de cui
Speaker 2: le manuel de me objective he DeVoe de polge quissan
Speaker 2: don the key quiva quivon a quat l do not be?
Speaker 7: How achievable is getting agreement or consensus from First Nations
Speaker 7: leaders in this room today and who are not in
Speaker 7: this room about how to move forward with this bill?
Speaker 2: Well, it's again today is about how to move forward.
Speaker 2: For example, we are we are providing forty million dollars
Speaker 2: to build out capacity so that during the process of
Speaker 2: determining what is a nation building projects which one do
Speaker 2: First Nations do provinces to the people of Canada want
Speaker 2: to move forward on that takes work, that takes capacity
Speaker 2: in order to do that. How to define the conditions
Speaker 2: The question that was just asked around those projects again,
Speaker 2: you need capacity to that. So how do we take
Speaker 2: that money, that commitment and translate that into an ability
Speaker 2: first point? Second, Well, I yes, I do, and I
Speaker 2: think this is and that's the purpose of having that's
Speaker 2: the purpose of having a discussion, because this is the
Speaker 2: first step of a process. And I think there's a
Speaker 2: very basic point here. Everyone wants to make the country better.
Speaker 2: Everyone wants better opportunities for their children. Everyone wants more
Speaker 2: resources for social services, for health, for education, for community services.
Speaker 2: And the question is about where what we're for which
Speaker 2: projects help achieve those goals. There's lots of projects that
Speaker 2: will fall by the wayside because they don't need conditions,
Speaker 2: because not there is an alignment of interest. But it's
Speaker 2: about how we establish a process in order to achieve.
Speaker 3: A screams.
Speaker 2: Come city, send the campaign elector absolute mont campaign campaign
Speaker 2: city or sand Daniel Parlement. The projectoire is to in
Speaker 2: in majority and prescienta in some press, some place, and
Speaker 2: no doesn't the Pazzi conservators say in pogeis de condition
Speaker 2: the coman suppossus. It's suki important and.
Speaker 3: Come taka take you here. M hm.
Speaker 2: H. Thank you, Harold megwich quay h.
Speaker 3: It is.
Speaker 2: A great honor, a great pleasure to to open this summit.
Speaker 2: I'm going to say a few words and then I'm
Speaker 2: going to listen. Listen for the day. Uh i listened carefully,
Speaker 2: uh to Vernon. Thank you for starting the meeting in
Speaker 2: the good way and the emphasis on listening ishkoda. We
Speaker 2: are here to listen, and we are starting as we
Speaker 2: mean to go forward by listening, engaging, working together. And
Speaker 2: thank you Grand Chief for being here with us. I
Speaker 2: know that many of you, virtually all of you, have
Speaker 2: traveled very long distances to be here, and I welcome
Speaker 2: all the rights holders, the nations, the treaty and non
Speaker 2: treating territories represented here this morning, as well as those
Speaker 2: of you who are joining us virtually. And I would
Speaker 2: like to take a moment to acknowledge the many First
Speaker 2: Nations that have been impacted by the devastating wildfires. I
Speaker 2: would also like to, if I may, if you'll indulge me,
Speaker 2: to compliment my colleagues, minister's Chartran, Alte Goldmasky, Minister Oldashevsky,
Speaker 2: who worked tirelessly to help provide and work with First
Speaker 2: Nations to combat these fuires and protect our people. There
Speaker 2: are multiple leaders who could not be here today due
Speaker 2: to the fires, but my commitment, our commitment, is to
Speaker 2: make sure that they are engaged and included in the
Speaker 2: conversations as we move forward. We'll also be launching a
Speaker 2: regional dialogue and a consultation process that will provide further
Speaker 2: opportunity for input and feedback. So today today is about
Speaker 2: the future of our economies, or our economies, and how
Speaker 2: we weave them together so that they're stronger together, how
Speaker 2: we can build a new economy together, an economy that
Speaker 2: moves from reliance to resilience. We have too much reliance
Speaker 2: on a certain foreign market, we have too much reliance
Speaker 2: on certain commodities. We can build resilience, but we can
Speaker 2: only build resilience together. We have to move from division
Speaker 2: to unity and move from operating in silos into partnerships.
Speaker 3: Now, in that.
Speaker 2: Discussion, we will of course discussed, as some of you
Speaker 2: did yesterday, the One Canadian Economy Act, and particularly the
Speaker 2: Building Canada Act, what it means, how we bring it
Speaker 2: to life in the right way. And I think that's
Speaker 2: the first point I really want to emphasize, is that
Speaker 2: this Act is only a way of starting a conversation
Speaker 2: and starting a process, and we define that process going forward.
Speaker 2: But what it could do is enable Canada to build
Speaker 2: big things that will connect and transform our national economy,
Speaker 2: create great careers, not just jobs, but careers for the
Speaker 2: people that we serve and provide the resources for health,
Speaker 2: for education and social services that our people deserve. It's
Speaker 2: about giving ourselves more than any foreign government can ever
Speaker 2: take away. It's about controlling our economic destiny. Together with
Speaker 2: this legislation, the word nation carries more than one meeting.
Speaker 2: Building Canada projects, national projects in the national interests will
Speaker 2: build our national economy through indigenous equity and full participation.
Speaker 2: Equity participation and resource management projects built with indigenous partners,
Speaker 2: with indigenous community. These and the point is one of
Speaker 2: the points is that the economic value of these projects
Speaker 2: will be shared with First Nations. As partners, you will
Speaker 2: help build the prosperity of your communities for generations to come.
Speaker 2: By moving forward together, we can write a new chapter.
Speaker 2: We together can write a new chapter in the relationship
Speaker 2: between the Government of Canada and First Nations. And those
Speaker 2: aren't just words. This isn't an aspiration.
Speaker 3: This is the law.
Speaker 2: This is the law as it is written. The plan
Speaker 2: is embedded in the law itself in many respects. This
Speaker 2: is the first federal legislation to put indigenous economic growth
Speaker 2: at its core. We now have the opportunity to realize it.
Speaker 2: So today we're going to discuss how we can do
Speaker 2: this together, particularly by hearing directly from you about what
Speaker 2: you want to build, how you want to build, to
Speaker 2: help build our nations ishkode that calls la coppa a
Speaker 2: la pataciois it comes sa betsi. They comes sa developed
Speaker 2: seti a vouzave ma ferod it comes sa counouzon. We
Speaker 2: have an ambitious agenda today, UH, and our objectives are fourfold. First,
Speaker 2: we'll discuss how best to work together meaningfully through engagement
Speaker 2: and consultation.
Speaker 1: How do we do that.
Speaker 2: Secondly, we'll review the role of the new Federal Major
Speaker 2: Project's Office and how it will work with the new
Speaker 2: Indigenous Advisory Council to get big projects built in the
Speaker 2: right way. Third, we'll discuss how the federal government can
Speaker 2: work with first Nations to build opportunities for equitable economic prosperity,
Speaker 2: partnership and full participation in major projects. And finally, at
Speaker 2: the end, I'll help moderate a session on how we
Speaker 2: can work together on the implementation of this legislation, and
Speaker 2: during that session, obviously I'll be very happy to take
Speaker 2: your questions at that time. I'll also be here throughout
Speaker 2: the day, and I look forward to having informal discussions
Speaker 2: with as many of you as possible. The conversations today
Speaker 2: are about hearing from us participants in building first nations
Speaker 2: communities as we together build our nation, and I fully recognize,
Speaker 2: we fully recognize there's many diverse perspectives, which is exactly
Speaker 2: why we've assembled this group, And thank you again for
Speaker 2: coming physically and virtually and in spirit to further that
Speaker 2: out which next week I we'll meet with the Inuit
Speaker 2: Crown Partnership Committee and soon thereafter with METI Leadership to
Speaker 2: continue these conversations. But before I seed the floor, I
Speaker 2: just want to spend a few more moments on how
Speaker 2: we would like to move forward and start again on
Speaker 2: how we intend to go on. Respecting the rights of
Speaker 2: Indigenous peoples is a fundamental purpose of the Building Canada Act.
Speaker 2: The Act requires meaningful consultation with Indigenous peoples, both in
Speaker 2: the process of determining which projects are in our collective
Speaker 2: interests and in the development of the conditions for those
Speaker 2: projects going forward. This is a legal requirement in the Act,
Speaker 2: which honors Section thirty five of our Constitution, and the
Speaker 2: duty to consult it upholds the Government's Committee to implement
Speaker 2: the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including free,
Speaker 2: prior and Informed consent. It helps put to help put
Speaker 2: this into action. The new Major Federal Project's Office will
Speaker 2: have that Indigenous Advisory Council to advise on the implementation
Speaker 2: of this bill and to ensure that Indigenous perspectives are
Speaker 2: fully integrated at each stage of the process. That council
Speaker 2: will be comprised of First Nations, Inuit, Matsi, Modern Treaty
Speaker 2: and self government representatives. We'll talk more about the structure
Speaker 2: and the operation of that council later today. Now, being
Speaker 2: a reliable partner to Indigenous peoples goes beyond upholding the
Speaker 2: duty to consult. It goes to creating and enabling the
Speaker 2: creation of long term wealth and prosperity for Indigenous peoples
Speaker 2: through full equity ownership of projects. And that's why we
Speaker 2: decided to double the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Probe to ten
Speaker 2: billion dollars to enable more Indigenous communities to acquire equity
Speaker 2: ownership of major projects without cost. We've substantially broadened the
Speaker 2: types of projects that are eligible for this through this
Speaker 2: type of financing, from not just natural resource projects or
Speaker 2: so those exist. Projects in the energy sector, in electricity generation,
Speaker 2: in environmental technologies such as carbon capture, in critical minerals,
Speaker 2: import infrastructure, in transportation infrastructure, and well beyond all the
Speaker 2: major projects that we're looking to build as a country.
Speaker 2: We're also dedicating forty million dollars to funding of new
Speaker 2: funding to support First Nations, Inuit and Meysie participation in
Speaker 2: this process. Money that will help build capacity for negotiations,
Speaker 2: to help with project selection and development, and we'd like
Speaker 2: to have your direct feedback on the parameters for this
Speaker 2: funding to ensure that it's most effective be used. The
Speaker 2: Building Canada Act defines projects in the National Interests as
Speaker 2: those which meet five criteria strengthening Canada's autonomy, our resilience,
Speaker 2: our security, providing other economic benefits to Canada, having a
Speaker 2: high likelihood of being successfully executed, contributing to clean development
Speaker 2: and are environmental objectives, and advancing the interests of indigenous peoples.
Speaker 2: Examples of those projects could include highways, railways, ports, new
Speaker 2: energy and trade corridors. KeyPoint, there is no list of
Speaker 2: those projects yet, there's ideas out there. Projects will be
Speaker 2: proposed by many stakeholders. The provinces have ideas. There will
Speaker 2: be ideas from the private sectors, and there will be
Speaker 2: ideas directly from first nations. There's multiple ways that we
Speaker 2: can collaborate on these projects, and I just want to
Speaker 2: highlight a few recent examples before I close. We look
Speaker 2: at Cedar LNG, which is a new floating liquefied natural
Speaker 2: gas processing facility and export terminal in British Columbia. It's
Speaker 2: a partnership between a private company, Pemben, a pipeline and
Speaker 2: the Island Nation the nation. Island Nation wanted this project
Speaker 2: built and the federal government worked with the islandination to
Speaker 2: provide the financing so there was equity ownership. It's a
Speaker 2: project that's a gold standard for infrastructure projects in Canada,
Speaker 2: creating over four hundred jobs, generating over two hundred and
Speaker 2: seventy five million in GDP during the construction and an
Speaker 2: additional eighty five million year in and year out annually thereafter.
Speaker 2: Much of that will go directly to the community. It
Speaker 2: will be power by clean energy and produce ultra low
Speaker 2: carbon liquefied national natural gas. It'll diversify our trading relationships
Speaker 2: into Asia, strengthen our economy here at home. So it's
Speaker 2: the type of projects that's transformative, that has the partnership
Speaker 2: and it's an example on which we can build. It
Speaker 2: will help change the lives of the workers, not just
Speaker 2: the workers on the project, but the community members for
Speaker 2: generations because of that flow of future income that goes
Speaker 2: directly to the community, because of projects and opportunities like this,
Speaker 2: because of the prosperity they create, whether it's Cedar LNG,
Speaker 2: the Enbridge West Coast Natural Gas pipeline, or the partnerships
Speaker 2: between Hydro Quebec and the Gananahue Mohawk that those projects
Speaker 2: will create. There are children who will grow up with
Speaker 2: a greater sense of security and prosperity and possibility. There'll
Speaker 2: be more resources for first nations to determine how to
Speaker 2: use them, whether in community centers, in health, in schools
Speaker 2: and beyond, and there'll be a foundation on which our
Speaker 2: people can build good, fulfilling lives. Really, in the end,
Speaker 2: what this is about, yes, selecting building and building in
Speaker 2: the right way major projects, but it's about building our
Speaker 2: country strong, building our nations strong, to empower our people
Speaker 2: with opportunity, with security and prosperity. And that's that's what
Speaker 2: we can build together at all the convol a sanci
Speaker 2: at evjevous remerci tous de prison devot de vot cando
Speaker 2: on pataria vele us alon batsiel de grand Canada. Canada's
Speaker 2: new government is committed to working together so we can
Speaker 2: build Canada together for everyone's benefit. I want to thank
Speaker 2: you again for being here today. I want to thank
Speaker 2: you for considering putting your trust in this process. I
Speaker 2: want to thank you in advance for the work that
Speaker 2: we will do together today and in the months and
Speaker 2: the years ahead. And now we will get to work,
Speaker 2: and thank you for your attention. Messie madwutch.
Speaker 5: Well, thanks very tending today and please welcome National Chief
Speaker 5: to the microphone.
Speaker 6: Oh Me Gwetch. Thank you Abajakachin and Maka Kabijayan oman Ungum.
Speaker 6: Thank you to the press for being here and walking
Speaker 6: with us as we get our messaging out this this week.
Speaker 6: It's been uh, you know, it's been a long time.
Speaker 6: I think the last meeting that chiefs had with the
Speaker 6: Prime Minister was in twenty twelve, and I think that
Speaker 6: that's too long for Canada to have a conversation with
Speaker 6: First nations, and so we look to this week for
Speaker 6: a more firm commitment on meeting more regular lead with
Speaker 6: our First Nation's leadership across this country and with the
Speaker 6: country as a whole. I want to recognize the algonquin
Speaker 6: Neshnabik Territory on whose land we are on. Thank you
Speaker 6: to Cheyenne, our knowledge keeper, our young knowledge keeper, for
Speaker 6: your prayers, and again thank you to the media for
Speaker 6: attending today. For the first time since being sworn into office,
Speaker 6: Prime Minister Carney will meet with First Nations chiefs from
Speaker 6: across this country. It has been over thirteen years since
Speaker 6: a Prime Minister had convened a meeting directly with First
Speaker 6: Nations leadership. So we lift up chiefs that have traveled
Speaker 6: to be here this week. We also recognize chiefs that
Speaker 6: can't be here because they are fighting wildfires in this country,
Speaker 6: and our hearts and prayers are with all of you
Speaker 6: and with the first responders across this country. First Nations
Speaker 6: and Canada are once again at a critical point in
Speaker 6: our nation to nation relationship. We recognize the Prime Minister
Speaker 6: for hosting this meeting. I know that him and I
Speaker 6: had tough discussions on it, and I'm glad that he'd
Speaker 6: answered that call to meet with chiefs directly, and so
Speaker 6: I appreciate him for that. I want to start by
Speaker 6: saying that we stand with the Prime Minister and with
Speaker 6: all Canadians against Prime Minister Trump's illegal tariffs. From the
Speaker 6: War of eighteen twelve and world wars thereafter, World War
Speaker 6: one and two, and throughout this country's history, First Nations
Speaker 6: in the masses and more than any other group cultural
Speaker 6: group in this country stood up for this country when
Speaker 6: they were facing war in times of crisis. Now is
Speaker 6: another one of those times, and First Nations are standing
Speaker 6: up again to protect their country. First Nations have inhabited
Speaker 6: these territories long before colonial borders were established. We have
Speaker 6: always supported economic growth and prosperity for all, but not
Speaker 6: at the expense of our rights and of the environment.
Speaker 6: Our rights cannot be implemented or respected without us in
Speaker 6: substance and in process. They cannot be respected. After the fact,
Speaker 6: we have proven over and over in court and at
Speaker 6: the United Nations. Bill C five was introduced and the
Speaker 6: Assembly of First Nations organized two virtual forums, and our
Speaker 6: executive men or who are here today, had met yesterday.
Speaker 6: These meetings were a chance to share strategies and discuss
Speaker 6: issues rights holders and First Nations have been raising consultation
Speaker 6: and consent were common themes. Chiefs have made it very
Speaker 6: clear that First Nations consent for major projects is not optional. Well,
Speaker 6: while the bill was rammed through Parliament in twenty days
Speaker 6: and amended to require provincial consent for national projects, provisions
Speaker 6: for the free prior and informed consent of impacted First
Speaker 6: Nations were voted down. Until an appropriate process founded in
Speaker 6: free prior and informed consent is estableablished between First Nations
Speaker 6: rights holders and the Crown, the Crown's legal obligations will
Speaker 6: not be met. So this week, my friends, is only
Speaker 6: the beginning. Our Assembly of First Nations virtual forums made
Speaker 6: it clear that First Nations have a range of views
Speaker 6: on major project development. This diversity is to be celebrated,
Speaker 6: not feared or leveraged against us. Many First Nations are
Speaker 6: very concerned about Bill C five, while other chiefs to
Speaker 6: want to proceed quickly with projects, resource revenue sharing agreements
Speaker 6: and project ownership. We support every First nation's rights holder,
Speaker 6: whether they oppose or support this bill. During the forums,
Speaker 6: chiefs have questioned the federal definition of a national interest project.
Speaker 6: Why can't the construction and ongoing operation of a long promise.
Speaker 6: Clean water systems in First Nations communities be a project
Speaker 6: of national significance. Why not fast tracks First Nations infrastructure quality, housing,
Speaker 6: modern First Nations schools, and reliable internet access, access to
Speaker 6: cell phone service for First Nations children and their families.
Speaker 6: Systemic neglect of basic infrastructure is another example of deep
Speaker 6: rooted inequality that has led to poorer health outcomes and
Speaker 6: less prosperity for First Nations compared to that of other Canadians.
Speaker 6: We are four times more likely to live in a
Speaker 6: crowded house, six times more likely to live in a
Speaker 6: home that needs major repairs. Half of First Nation's schools
Speaker 6: in Canada on our First Nations are over crowded. They're
Speaker 6: in need of additions or immediate replacement. During this past
Speaker 6: federal election, Prime Minister Carnei recognized this opportunity in a
Speaker 6: very tangible and relevant terms during a virtual forum with
Speaker 6: our chiefs. Trime Minister said closing the First Nation's infrastructure
Speaker 6: gap alone would trigger would have a bigger impact economic
Speaker 6: impact than the negative aspect of all of Trump's tariffs.
Speaker 6: In addition to a huge return on investment, He described
Speaker 6: the need to provide predictable funding through a single envelope.
Speaker 6: The Prime Minister said his government would match First Nations
Speaker 6: led projects with financing certainty so projects can move through.
Speaker 6: Excuse me a moment, and during and during the royal visit,
Speaker 6: King Charles the Third said that we must honor the
Speaker 6: Truth and Reconciliation in both word and deed. With the
Speaker 6: election over Trump's tariffs and the next budget approaching, we
Speaker 6: have a chance to turn to the Prime Minister's insightful
Speaker 6: words to deed. What better way to recognize the tenth
Speaker 6: and of nury of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls
Speaker 6: to action then fast tracking national projects to close the
Speaker 6: First Nation's infrastructure gap. Rights Holders have been waiting patiently
Speaker 6: to be heard about Bill C five. They were purposely
Speaker 6: excluded and uninvited from any substantive exchange with parliamentarians.
Speaker 2: About C five.
Speaker 6: So this week we hope space will finally be provided
Speaker 6: four chiefs to be heard. We hope the infrastructure gap
Speaker 6: is on the table in a very serious way, and
Speaker 6: we hope the Prime Minister will make meetings with rights
Speaker 6: holders a more regular occurrence. This can't just be the
Speaker 6: bl end all today. This has to be the start
Speaker 6: of a new relationship with First Nations directly. Regardless of
Speaker 6: what happens, nothing will change the reality that over five
Speaker 6: hundred and sixty billion dollars of project are forecast to
Speaker 6: be launched on traditional First Nations lands over the next decade.
Speaker 6: The potential benefit of these projects is in the trillions
Speaker 6: of dollars, but they're not going to advance without First
Speaker 6: Nation support and that is the truth, my friends. Thank
Speaker 6: you so very much, Jimmy much.
Speaker 7: Hello, good okay, good evening. Sorry, I'm just thinking what
Speaker 7: time is it right now. It's been a long day.
Speaker 7: So my name is Kyra Wilson, Grand Chief for the
Speaker 7: Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. I just want to say thank
Speaker 7: you to the leadership that is here today. You know,
Speaker 7: it has been a long day of conversations with the
Speaker 7: Prime Minister as well as cabinet ministers and many leadership
Speaker 7: from across the country and it's been an interesting day
Speaker 7: to say the least. We've heard from many nations, of course,
Speaker 7: which is the most important part of the discussions that
Speaker 7: happened in the last two days. We, of course, as
Speaker 7: First Nations, needed to ensure that our voices are being
Speaker 7: heard and you know there's a clear message that we've
Speaker 7: heard or that I've heard, sorry today, but also yesterday
Speaker 7: as well as that we are calling for honesty and
Speaker 7: transparency in all discussions when it comes to this country,
Speaker 7: you know, as the first people's of the land and
Speaker 7: territories that we see in this country, we need to
Speaker 7: be a part of these conversations. And I understand that
Speaker 7: Canada has talked about, you know, an issue of national
Speaker 7: security and these major projects are going to address that.
Speaker 7: And these major projects are of national interest. And what
Speaker 7: we've heard today is that you know, what is the issue?
Speaker 7: What is national security? As first nations, we need to
Speaker 7: be a part of these conversations. You know, our people
Speaker 7: have fought in the front lines of the wars of
Speaker 7: this country and we need to be acknowledged and respected.
Speaker 7: And we have many, many asks and many demands when
Speaker 7: it comes to this process. If we are talking about
Speaker 7: major projects, what are we currently dealing with today? Yes,
Speaker 7: there are future projects that we can discuss. Of course,
Speaker 7: today was not about consultation. Today is going to be
Speaker 7: the first meetings of many That is the expectation from Canada.
Speaker 7: And when we think about the consent of these major projects,
Speaker 7: we also need to have rights of refusal. We need
Speaker 7: to be able to say no. And that was one
Speaker 7: of the questions that we asked today. What is your
Speaker 7: response going to be if a nation says no to
Speaker 7: any major project within the region or in their territory,
Speaker 7: and so major projects resource extraction. You know, this is
Speaker 7: a conversation and you know, we're not against development, but
Speaker 7: not at the expense of our waters and our lands.
Speaker 7: And that is also a clear message that we have
Speaker 7: shared with Canada today is that we are always going
Speaker 7: to protect the waters and the lands and ensure that
Speaker 7: you know, the lands and waters are there for future generations.
Speaker 7: And we see resource extraction today. You know, we see
Speaker 7: Canada and the provinces benefiting from resources that are being
Speaker 7: extracted from our lands and territories, and we need to
Speaker 7: also see the benefit from well the financial benefits, sorry,
Speaker 7: from what is happening today, and we don't as first nations,
Speaker 7: we are stricken with poverty in our nations. So you know,
Speaker 7: that is one of the things that we or I
Speaker 7: shouldn't say, that I've heard today and just thinking about
Speaker 7: you know, there's so many thoughts that are going through
Speaker 7: my mind right now about the message we've also heard
Speaker 7: you know that section thirty five. There needs to be
Speaker 7: a framework that is defining First Nations rights within that
Speaker 7: piece of legislation. We need to hear from Canada how
Speaker 7: they're going to respect and recognize our laws, the laws
Speaker 7: that we create, the standards and regulations that we create
Speaker 7: in this process. What is that going to look like?
Speaker 7: And there's so many questions and I'll leave that to
Speaker 7: leadership to speak about. But what I will say is
Speaker 7: that this meeting was not consultation. This meeting was a
Speaker 7: discussion and it's going to be a discussion of many
Speaker 7: That is the expectation going forward.
Speaker 1: And so I.
Speaker 7: Acknowledge our leadership that we're at the table today. Thank
Speaker 7: you very much for being there for our nations. Thank
Speaker 7: you for standing up for our nations and our families.
Speaker 7: And I just want to say, jimmy much to our
Speaker 7: leadership that are here today, thank you.
Speaker 4: I thought a lot about what the Prime Minister had
Speaker 4: to say, and when I think about this relationship that
Speaker 4: First Nations are engaged with Canada and the history of
Speaker 4: our relationship, the history of lies, the history of violence,
Speaker 4: the history of broken promises, this makes trust hard. Prime
Speaker 4: Minister Carney. I would love nothing more as a First
Speaker 4: Nation's chief to say that I trust you or that
Speaker 4: I can trust you. But as you said today, Prime Minister,
Speaker 4: today was not consultation. Today was merely engagement, as was yesterday.
Speaker 4: Don't even consider it a blind dad, Prime Minister, You're
Speaker 4: just getting to meet us and getting to know us
Speaker 4: as First Nation's chief, First Nations chiefs and Grand chiefs
Speaker 4: and forming a healthy and mutually respectful relationship is going
Speaker 4: to be a long, hard road. It's going to take
Speaker 4: a lot of time, and we're going to need to
Speaker 4: see some serious showings of good faith. And, at the
Speaker 4: risk of sounding redundant, enacting Bill C five and passing
Speaker 4: this legislation without consenting, sorry, consulting with us or obtaining
Speaker 4: our consent was not a good start. Another issue that
Speaker 4: the Prime Minister touched upon was that of hope. Let
Speaker 4: me tell you, as a female First Nations Chief, as
Speaker 4: a mother of five children, as a grandmother who will
Speaker 4: someday be a great grandmother, hope is something that I
Speaker 4: think about every day. Hope is something that First Nations
Speaker 4: people in this country are fast losing. Hope is virtually
Speaker 4: non existent right now as I speak these words. Three
Speaker 4: wildfires surround my ancestral land and much of Northern Manitoba
Speaker 4: is burning the boreal forest that we rely on, all humans,
Speaker 4: not just First Nations, all human beings rely on to
Speaker 4: Breathe is being decimated and it's getting worse year after
Speaker 4: year after year. This is all the result of climate change.
Speaker 4: This is the result of environmental degradation, and we're being
Speaker 4: asked to come to the table to talk about how
Speaker 4: we can do more destruction than degradation. Is it just
Speaker 4: me or does that seem crazy to everyone else as well?
Speaker 4: There's an abundance of hopelessness and despair in First Nations
Speaker 4: communities because we don't live in a third world. Let's
Speaker 4: get this straight. First Nations people in Canada, a G
Speaker 4: seven country, live in the fourth world, and it's unacceptable,
Speaker 4: and once again, it's indicative of the unhealthy and abusive
Speaker 4: relationship that we seem to be stuck in. I'll give
Speaker 4: you two quick examples of major destruction that has occurred
Speaker 4: in my ancestral territory of Northern Manitoba, not just the
Speaker 4: Nissistic Cree nation, but other First Nations and communities in
Speaker 4: Northern Manitoba. One perhaps The most damming was Manitoba Churchill
Speaker 4: River diversion. It flooded the community of South Indian Lake
Speaker 4: ten feet underwater. To this day, the sturgeon our facing extinction,
Speaker 4: the whitefish are in danger of extinction. And a people
Speaker 4: that were once completely self sufficient, proud, hard working individuals
Speaker 4: who did not rely on the government for anything, including
Speaker 4: my late grandfather, that has been relegated to a community
Speaker 4: that is almost entirely reliant on the government for not
Speaker 4: just transfer payments, but employment, income assistance or welfare, welfare,
Speaker 4: social assistance, handouts, whatever you want to call it. We
Speaker 4: never needed this, and it's national projects of interest like
Speaker 4: hydro dams and pipelines and mines that have brought us
Speaker 4: to this place where we need to rely on the
Speaker 4: government in order to survive. The second example is the
Speaker 4: Reutan mine in Leaf Rapids, Manitoba. Any of my relatives
Speaker 4: and my citizens live in Leaf Rapids. The entire town
Speaker 4: is evacuated right now, while the province and the FEDS
Speaker 4: kind of go back and forth over jurisdiction. There is
Speaker 4: no elected government, which is very convenient, and the people
Speaker 4: are not being helped. The town itself is in grave
Speaker 4: danger and an emergency mandatory evacuation took place recently. The
Speaker 4: people are all displaced, they're suffering on the streets of Winnipeg,
Speaker 4: Brandon Portaprairie wherever. And this community has been on a
Speaker 4: Worldwater Advisory for over twenty years because this mine came
Speaker 4: in under the authorization not of matriarchs like myself, not
Speaker 4: a First Nations leadership, but by the authority of the
Speaker 4: provincial government thanks to the National Resource Transfer Act. They
Speaker 4: came in, they destroyed, and they left a big mess
Speaker 4: and tailings than you can shake a stick at. There
Speaker 4: was a time that our elders told us that one
Speaker 4: day we would pay for water. That was what they
Speaker 4: told our ancestors, and our ancestors found that concept to
Speaker 4: be incredulous. Why would we pay for water because clean,
Speaker 4: fresh drinking water was in absolute abundance all throughout the
Speaker 4: Turtle Island and especially in Northern Manitoba. Today, I think
Speaker 4: it's safe to say that one day wars will be
Speaker 4: fought over clean drinking water. Make no mistake, our so
Speaker 4: called neighbors to the south will be the first ones
Speaker 4: running up here wanting our water. And it's going to
Speaker 4: be a sad day.
Speaker 6: One day.
Speaker 4: No one will be able to breathe, and it won't
Speaker 4: only be because of all the wildfires. It'll be because
Speaker 4: we've decimated the boil for us that we as humans
Speaker 4: rely on for oxygen for survival. My final thought on
Speaker 4: the issue of Bill C five is that I have
Speaker 4: great concern for our First Nations women, our girls, and
Speaker 4: our two spirit relatives. History has shown us that with
Speaker 4: big projects and development come man camps, and with these
Speaker 4: man camps comes copious amounts of sexual violence and gender
Speaker 4: based violence being perpetrated against our women, our girls, and
Speaker 4: our two spirit relatives. This cannot continue, It must be addressed,
Speaker 4: and it should not be ignored. This is not the
Speaker 4: first time I have addressed this issue with media, and
Speaker 4: I'm still waiting to have these words shared with the public,
Speaker 4: shared with government. As Indigenous women, girls, two spirit and
Speaker 4: also Indigenous men and boys, we have the right to live.
Speaker 4: We have the right to feel safe. A WG two
Speaker 4: US plus no more sexual violent abuse against our indigenous people.
Speaker 4: To conclude, I will quote Cree knowledge Keeper Robert Spence
Speaker 4: of Titasquia Cree Nation. What we do to the land,
Speaker 4: we do to ourselves, and that goes for all of us.
Speaker 4: Not just First Nations, all human beings. We're all in
Speaker 4: this together. And you can't eat money, and you can't
Speaker 4: breathe money, and you can't drink oil. We have to
Speaker 4: work together, yes, to improve the conditions of First Nations
Speaker 4: people in this country called Canada, but we also have
Speaker 4: to protect Mother Earth Higosani.
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